I also would prefer that Cap be the only one who has the serum. Failed attempts at recreating it (ala Banner/Hulk) are okay, but if you have too many people running around with stable forms of the serum, even if they're derivatives, I think it takes something away from Cap.

This, 110%.
We know Marvel is full of derivatives and knockoffs in a comic-book universe that has a cast of tens of thousands, but when the super-powered population of the MCU numbers only a handful, you can't go around duplicating powers and skillsets. That's been one of the complaints that's loudly (and fairly) leveled at using War Machine. We sure don't need more Cap knockoffs like Patriot and US Agent and a host of others.

I don't want them to include the Natasha/Super Soldier plot, either. That is one of the most ridiculously unnecessary retcons ever. The Black Widow should have remained what she was in the original comics: a highly trained athlete/ballerina who became a spy for the Soviet/Russian government. They could have easily ignored or changed the parts of her backstory that dated her, as the film universe did, without resorting to the stupidity of making her into something that she never was to begin with.

The concept of "badass normal" characters like Natasha and Hawkeye holding their own and contributing to their teams while surrounded by superpowered comrades is very appealing. It gives us little moments like their scene on the Helicarrier where Natasha talks of dealing with "monsters and magic and nothing were were ever trained for." They are the viewers' proxies; through them we can see what it would be like to exist in that world. Taking that away would be a shame.

They never gave any inclinations that BW is older than she looks, did they?

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If the person you're seeing ever asks the question "Who is Stan Lee?", promptly kick their ass to the curb.
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Who the **** makes a movie and while planning it is like, "you know what this needs...is some Greg Kinnear."

I think at this point the heroes we've been introduced to need to just stay as they are. Adding in secret pasts and secret powers is wildly unnecessary and one of the worse aspects of the comic book superhero genre

Fury only needs the Infinity Formula if they want him to be a World War II veteran in the MCU as he is in the comics. Right now there's little need to do so. Samuel L. Jackson is already 60 years old (yeah, I was surprised when I found that out, too). He could just be a Vietnam veteran instead, or something.

__________________"They always talk about transcending the genre and I don't believe in transcending the genre. I believe in the genre." -Joss Whedon

I think at this point the heroes we've been introduced to need to just stay as they are. Adding in secret pasts and secret powers is wildly unnecessary and one of the worse aspects of the comic book superhero genre

I would, grudgingly, accept some form of age-retarding phlebotinum, if that is explicitly *all* it did. Thus, you could set her origin deep in the cold war without taking away her badass normal-ness.

I just would also make clear that having a few extra decades on various people doesn't actually make her automatically *better* at the non-powered skill routine than any other elite type. It just means she still remains at her peak years after she'd otherwise start to slow down.

I also would prefer that Cap be the only one who has the serum. Failed attempts at recreating it (ala Banner/Hulk) are okay, but if you have too many people running around with stable forms of the serum, even if they're derivatives, I think it takes something away from Cap.

I agree.

__________________"Well, I guess the laws of physics cease to exist on top of your stove!"

I would, grudgingly, accept some form of age-retarding phlebotinum, if that is explicitly *all* it did. Thus, you could set her origin deep in the cold war without taking away her badass normal-ness.

I just would also make clear that having a few extra decades on various people doesn't actually make her automatically *better* at the non-powered skill routine than any other elite type. It just means she still remains at her peak years after she'd otherwise start to slow down.

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"That was the edge Parker had; he knew that survival was more important than heroics. It isn't how you play the game, it's whether you win or lose.”
~ Richard Stark, Deadly Edge

Ok, this is going to get a little wonky. We’ve been covering a few shortlists for Captain America 2’s female lead. The assumption on behalf of comics fans is that we’re looking for Agent 13, AKA Sharon Carter, the niece of ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’s Peggy Carter.

The list is Palmer, Poots, Clarke, Brown-Findley and Alison Brie. It’s CONFIRMED that marvel is looking for a character in her 20s with ‘an accent.’ Palmer, Poots, Clarke and Brown-Findley if requested for a screen test will do so with their native accents, Alison Brie will screen test with her British accent (oh, Alison Brie’s British accent and the Inspector Spacetime gag reel outtakes on Community’s Season 3 DVD…). Since the deleted ‘Avengers’ Cap scenes revealed that Peggy was alive and well in the UK, this is consistent with Sharon Carter.

BUT, I have to blow your mind a bit here. List and screen test details aside, the person Marvel has the most traction with right now hasn’t been on any shortlist, because it’s MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD.

Seems like it could be her part for the taking if they are holding off on screen testing the list we all blogged about.

THE MEN – VILLAINS?

I’m going to assume that with Anthony Mackey possibly bringing The Falcon to ‘Cap 2,’ Black Widow showing up and Bucky returning as The Winter Soldier that the two “very physical” male parts Marvel is looking to cast are our villains. Then again, if we’re looking at a globe hopping SHIELD adventure, who am I to say that one of these isn’t the new Coulson or whathaveyou?

What we do know is there are two male roles up for grabs. One is an American character and the other is a foreign character, both roles – we cannot stress enough – are physical.

Looks like Marvel likes the idea of pulling from the Game of Thrones wheelhouse (Alan Talor on ‘Thor 2′) because a name shortlisted for one of these parts is Nikolaj Coster Waldau. Nicolaj is up against his Lost counterpart Josh Holloway. Unless this report screws it for them, expect both to be screen tested.

Also on the list, but more clinging to edge of it from the sound of things is Kevin Durand, who makes a great bad guy (and was the focus of the single surprising moment in ‘Cosmopolis’…and also from ‘Lost’ now that I think about it).

Damn! I'd love Holloway or Waldau for a bigger, more recurring role in the MCU than as villains, but they're both great. I think I suggested Waldau at one point for Star-Lord. I'd prefer him for that, but whatever. I can't even if either of them are up for M.O.D.O.K. I'd feel really , really weird having a massive crush on Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing over either Cap, Bucky or Falcon. ld razz:

I approve either way, Marvel Studios (I'm sure they care what I think....)

__________________"Joss Whedon, Shane Black, Edgar Wright, James Gunn… For as much flack as people give Marvel that's a pretty freaking great group of filmmakers. Kind of feel spoiled."